The Provider Podcast

In this episode, Adam Brimelow sits down with NHS Providers interim chief executive Saffron Cordery to discuss the importance of world mental health day, and her particular concerns for the mental health of children and young people as we move on from the pandemic. Saffron also highlights the importance of addressing  inequalities of mental health need and access to care in the NHS.   Adam is also joined by Sarah Kline, chief executive of United for Global Mental Health who emphasises the continuing need to tackle stigma and discrimination, and to educate people about mental health. We also hear from Ifti Majid, chief executive at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust who discusses how mental health needs have changed over recent years, and how his trust has responded.

In this episode, Adam Brimelow sits down with NHS Providers interim chief executive Saffron Cordery and director of policy and strategy Miriam Deakin to discuss the implications for Trusts ahead of the ‘go live' date for ICSs on 1 July, placed on a statutory footing under the new Health and Care Act. The episode looks at how the Act reflects and formalises moves to greater integration, often led by Trusts, and how the changing landscape is providing opportunities for providers to adapt and expand their roles to improve care and help build healthier communities. Adam also hears from Dr Ify Okocha, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, and Peter Lewis, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust joint chief executive, leaders on the ground who in different ways are adapting successfully to the new landscape. Release date: Thursday 23 June, 2022

This fourth episode from our Providers Deliver season focuses on tackling community and ambulance backlogs in the NHS. We begin by hearing from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's clinical lead for discharge and intermediate care Karen Hutton, and Marguerite Harvey, a clinical lead physiotherapist based in A&E, as they explain their discharge to assess new initiative which sees patients assessed in their own home. Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust's clinical response and governance manager (and paramedic) Simon Jennings, and Charlotte Underwood, a nurse in their new clinical hub, share details of how the new hub in their emergency operations centre helps deliver the right care to patients first time. We also hear from Julia Bryant, one of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust's quality leads, and Emily McCardle, clinical lead and speech and language therapist, whose children's speech and language therapy team has been working to equip teachers virtually to support children with their language, communication and social skills.  Released: Thursday 9 June 2022

This third episode from our Providers Deliver season focuses on tackling hospital backlogs in the NHS. We begin by hearing from King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust head of neurosurgery Ranjeev Bhangoo and Dr Clive Kay, chief executive at the trust whose neurosurgery team is using extra theatre time and capacity to carry out 750 more operations a year. And speak to a patient's sister, Jo, on their experience of this new process. Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust clinical director of orthopaedics Colin Senior and James Smith an orthopaedic consultant and clinical lead for the assessment centre who have managed to reduce total waiting lists by 52%. We also hear from Eilish Midlane, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust chief operating officer and Alaina Yardley, lead cardiac physiologist, share their approach of using remote home monitors to follow-up with and among heart devices for thousands of patients. Released: Thursday 2 June 2022

This second episode from our Providers Deliver season focuses on tackling mental health backlogs in the NHS. We begin by hearing from Rod Booth, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust director of performance, Neil Balmer, programme manager of South London Listens, and Albinia Stanley, community organiser in Southwark and Peckham, as they talk about how their Trust works with local partners. Kelly Barker, Bradford District Care NHS Trust general manager for mental health services, and Helen Davey, Mind Bradford chief executive, share the pressures they have faced and how they have been working with voluntary and community organisations to better meet growing demand for the area's adult community. We also hear Sian Wimbury, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust deputy chief operating officer, and Jane Arands, strategic lead, who share their innovative ways of working collaboratively with other mental health trusts and private sector providers in the area through the north west bed bureau. Released: Thursday 26 May 2022

In this episode we kick-start our brand new Providers Deliver series, focusing on setting the scene for the episodes ahead and providing background and context to the range of care backlogs that the NHS is currently facing.  We hear from Anna Quigley, Ipsos research director, as she shares her latest insights on the impact of the pandemic on levels of public support for the NHS, and the extent to which those perceptions are being affected by care backlogs and treatment delays. Dr Bola Owolabi, NHS England and NHS Improvement director of health inequalities, joins us to reflect on the way the pandemic has exacerbated health inequalities and the importance of the NHS recovering services in an inclusive way. Dr Owolabi also shares what NHS England and NHS Improvement are doing in response to the latest insights trust leaders have shared about additional practical support they would welcome to recover services inclusively.  We also hear from Miriam Deakin, NHS Providers director of policy and strategy, and Ella Fuller, NHS Providers policy advisor. They explain between them the depth and breadth of care backlogs across the NHS and the impact of these on patients, their families and carers, NHS staff, and the wider system.

In this episode, Adam Brimelow sits down with Chris Hopson to discuss the final Ockenden review. NHS Providers senior policy manager Finn O'Dwyer-Cunliffe and policy advisor Sarah White also join Adam to discuss the findings from last week's NHS staff survey results which highlights the harsh reality of those on the frontline over the past two years.  Recorded with Finn O'Dwyer-Cunliffe and Sarah White: 1 April 2022 Recorded with Chris Hopson: 4 April 2022 Released: 7 April 2022

This episode focuses on the critical subject of race equality. Coinciding with the launch of our new report, Race 2.0 - Time for real change, Adam Brimelow speaks with chief executive Chris Hopson, who shares his journey on how to be actively anti-racist. Deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery discusses the anti-racism statement we are producing as well as what actions we are taking, while associate director of programmes Jenny Reindorp discusses the findings from Race 2.0 - Time for real change. We're also joined by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust non-executive director Sim Scavazza, to discuss how the NHS (and NHS Providers as an organisation) needs to do more and the challenges we must tackle personally and professionally.

In this episode Adam Brimelow discusses the 'living with COVID' plan with NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery. He is also joined by specialist advisor Toby Lewis, Luke O'Shea and Natalie Davies to discuss our climate change report, Climate Change is a Public Emergency. Toby discusses the context for our new report and the challenges ahead, while Luke and Natalie give examples from their respective trusts on their sustainability journey and explain how they are attempting to create a greener NHS. 

In this episode Adam Brimelow is joined by NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson to discuss the recent change of approach to mandatory vaccinations and Senior Policy Manager Georgia Butterworth who gives an insight to how trusts are preparing for system working and what NHS Providers are doing to support integrated care boards as the date for statutory integrated care systems is on the horizon.

After a break over the festive period, The Provider Podcast returns this week as Adam Brimelow invites Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive and Luís Costa da Silva, Senior Research Analyst, to assess the impact of Omicron and the latest statistics indicating how the NHS is handling winter pressures, released 13 January 2022. Recorded: 14 January 2022 Released: 18 January 2022

The NHS is again in a challenging position. In this episode, Adam Brimelow invites Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, and Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive, to share the latest on the Omicron variant, recent government announcements surrounding booster vaccinations and the impact these are having on the health and care sector. Recorded: 15 December 2021 Released: 16 December 2021

In this episode we share Amanda Pritchard's keynote speech from our virtual Annual Conference #NHSP21. She reflects on the past 18 months in the NHS and outlines her priorities as chief executive of NHS England, including responding to winter pressures, supporting the COVID-19 vaccination programme, recovery from non-COVID services and transforming the NHS, particularly in areas of partnerships, workforce and digital transformation. If you'd like to watch the sessions back in full from the NHS Providers annual conference #NHSP21, you can visit the programme at nhsproviders.org/annualconference where you will find the available session recordings. Looking for Amanda Pritchard's speech? That will be next week's #TheProviderPodcast episode.  Conference recording: 16 November 2021

Who said what, and when? In this episode of The Provider Podcast, Adam Brimelow revisits some of the key moments from NHS Providers' annual conference 2021. Including HSJ deputy editor Dave West, and NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson, we listen back to what was said by Amanda Pritchard, NHS England chief executive, Sajid Javid, secretary of state for health and social care, Anita Charlesworth, director of research and the REAL Centre at the Health Foundation, and Saffron Cordery NHS Providers deputy chief executive.  If you'd like to watch the sessions back in full from the NHS Providers annual conference #NHSP21, you can visit the programme at nhsproviders.org/annualconference where you will find the available session recordings. Looking for Amanda Pritchard's speech? That will be next week's #TheProviderPodcast episode.  Conference recordings: 16-17 November Recorded with Dave West: 18 November Recorded with Chris Hopson: 23 November  Released: Thursday 25 November 

In this episode Adam Brimelow speaks with Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers deputy chief executive, on the latest funding announcements in the NHS, including capital investment and concerns surrounding NHS workforce education and training. And the latest on our upcoming Annual Conference #NHSP21, following our recent announcement to turn the event virtual rather than face-to-face. The theme of the conference is 'Together', Saffron explains how this theme is still relevant to us all even in a virtual format. You can find out more about our conference programme, including our speakers such as Amanda Pritchard, NHS England chief executive, and MP Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which is open to everyone, and book your FREE place online at nhsproviders.org/annualconference.

October is Black History Month, a rich part of our history and something we should recognise all year round. This episode covers how inclusion and diversity are being implemented and supported throughout our trusts as Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers deputy chief executive, Ifti Majid, chief executive at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and Steve McManus, chief Executive of Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, discuss the actions board members are taking to promote racial equality and be actively inclusive through their conversations and actions as leaders.

A lot has happened in the past few months, particularly when it comes to funding announcements for the NHS. In this episode you'll hear Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, and Miriam Deakin, NHS Providers director of policy and strategy, join Adam Brimelow to discuss exactly this, as they update you on recent funding announcements, who they apply to, where the new funding can be used, what to expect in the upcoming spending review and what NHS Providers have been working toward. We also discuss the financial implications from COVID-19 and the potential hardships of winter 2021.  Recorded: 6 October Released: 7 October

After a short break over the summer The Provider Podcast is back! In this episode Adam Brimelow speaks with Daniel Reynolds, NHS Confederation director of communications, and Carrie-Ann Wade, director of communications at North East London NHS Foundation Trust, on the importance of the role of communications in the NHS, how to support your comms colleagues, how COVID-19 has impacted the communications profession and all you need to know about our upcoming NHS Communicate Conference and Awards. We're also excited to inform you that The Provider Podcast will now take on a slightly different approach. We'll be providing you with fortnightly episodes, incorporating regular updates on the sector from Chris Hopson, Saffron Cordery and other NHS Providers senior team members. We'll be covering topics that are relevant to the current climate at the time they happen, while also spotlighting wider issues and discussions throughout the year.

In this episode of our Digital Boards season, Saffron Cordery speaks with national NHS leaders Navina Evans, Health Education England chief executive, and Sonia Patel, NHSX chief information officer, about digital acceleration, tackling health inequalities in digital, what trust boards should prioritise to progress their digital maturity and how trusts can support their workforce during digital transformation.

In this episode of our Digital Boards season, Saffron Cordery speaks with UK based technology suppliers about the relationship between digital teams in the NHS and technology, and how to journey along that collaborative relationship. This episode welcomes Andreas Haimboeck-Tichy, IBM director, Health and Social Care Council at Tech UK chair, and Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust non executive director, Shane Tickell, TempleBlack chief executive and founder and Health and Social Care Council at Tech UK vice chair, and Dr Nicholas Andreou, Locums Nest co-founder. You can find more episodes of The Provider Podcast on our website.

In this episode of our Digital Boards season, Saffron Cordery speaks with Shera Chok, The Shuri Network co-founder and chair, NHS Digital deputy chief medical officer and NHS England and NHS Improvement national clinical advisor, Patricia Miller OBE, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust chief executive and board director for the NHS Race and Health Observatory, and Andy Callow group chief digital information officer at Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust.

In this episode, Saffron speaks to chief clinical information officers Ayesha Rahim, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, and Annalise McNair, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, on the importance of clinical leadership in digital transformation for NHS trusts and foundation trusts. Recorded 13 April 2021. Released: 6 May 2021.

This episode is the first in our Digital Boards series, linking into our Digital Boards programme, we speak to three non-executive directors who share the lessons they've learnt from other sectors for digital transformation which can help shape the NHS' digital journey. This recording was taken from a live virtual Digital Boards event earlier in 2021, and is chaired by Chris Fleming, Public Digital founder.  Hear from non executive directors Sumit Biswas, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Pankaj Davé, University hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, and Lynne Mellor, York teaching hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

In this episode we speak to Jeremy Hunt, MP former health secretary and current chair of the health and social care select committee, on his perspective of the pandemic, what went wrong in the early days, his concerns around workforce and social care, and the government's legislative plans for the health service. Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, also joins Adam Brimelow in the conversation surrounding Jeremy Hunt's experience and role as the pandemic takes this next phase. Recorded 19 April, 2021.

In this episode we talk about the importance of mental health support for NHS staff, the role of the NHS in addressing health inequalities, the neglect of social care and how the NHS will need to adapt for the future including waiting lists for cancer treatments.  Hear from Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, Patricia Miller Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, Sam Allen Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, and Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive in the episode below.

In this episode we speak about the impact of workforce vacancies in the NHS, the issues surrounding the 1% pay rise and whether COVID-19 vaccinations should be mandatory for NHS staff and health care workers. Hear from Siobhan Melia, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, Richard Mitchell, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, and Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers deputy chief executive. 

Our brand new season COVID-19 One Year On of The Provider Podcast starts with an exclusive episode with leading health journalists Hugh Pym from the BBC, Kat Lay from The Times, and Denis Campbell from The Guardian, on their experiences of reporting the pandemic, and the challenges they have faced in telling its true story. 

In our final episode for our NHS Winter Watch series we talk to our in-house analysis experts, Claire Helm and Julian Russell, as we decipher the impact that COVID-19 has had on the NHS over the winter months. We discuss the scale of comparison from previous winters, review critical care, and reflect on the great work of trusts leading us into the future.

Adam Brimelow, NHS Providers director of communications, and Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, speak with Amanda Pritchard, chief operating officer of the NHS, on the past year, the legacy the NHS will hold, and her own personal message to health care workers. Recorded 22 February 2021. 

In this virtual recording, we have a quick chat with experts from our very own NHS Providers analysis team, Claire Helm NHS Providers senior analysis manager and Julian Russell senior research analyst, about the developments in COVID-19 pressures, the impact of infection prevention measures, and what NHS trusts can expect in the coming months.  Recorded: 5 February 2021 

We speak to CQC colleagues Heidi Smoult, deputy chief inspector for hospitals, and Debbie Ivanova, deputy chief inspector for adult social care, about the concerns surrounding winter inspections, infection prevention and control, and their clinician support tool Patient FIRST. 

In this virtual episode Adam Brimelow speaks to Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, on the current situation in the NHS, the impact of misinformation and COVID-19 denial, and whether the vaccine really is a way out of lockdown. Recorded 12 January 2021.

Welcome to The Provider Podcast from NHS Providers. Adam Brimelow, NHS Providers director of communications leads us through our three part podcast series, alongside our NHS Winter Watch campaign, for winter 2020-21. In this live virtual recording, we manage to have a quick chat with experts from our very own NHS Providers analysis team, Claire Helm NHS Providers senior analysis manager and Julian Russell NHS Providers senior research analyst, about what trusts can expect over the coming winter months, the impact of COVID-19 and statistics from our first week of #NHSWinterWatch.

Our fifth episode of our podcast season looking back on our virtual Annual Conference and Exhibition 2020. This discussion looked at the impact of coronavirus and the wider socio-economic consequences of the UK's response to the pandemic on mental health and wellbeing, the likely shape of demand for mental health services in the coming months and what the sector needs to be able to meet it. 

Our fourth episode of our podcast season looking back on our virtual Annual Conference and Exhibition 2020. The NHS' response to COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation across health and care. Since then trust boards have placed digital at the heart of the restoration and recovery of services. 

Our third episode of our podcast season looking back on our virtual Annual Conference and Exhibition 2020. We held a panel discussion exploring how trust leaders are challenging themselves and their organisations to identify and tackle race inequality, reflecting on the real harm it causes to staff and patients, and identifying the steps needed to make the NHS anti-racist.

Our second episode of our podcast season looking back on our virtual Annual Conference and Exhibition 2020. The pandemic has presented extraordinary challenges for people working in trust communications. In this session, we reflected on some of those high-profile situations and the key role communications has in shaping and delivering a response.

Our first episode of our podcast season looking back on our virtual Annual Conference and Exhibition 2020, this panel discussion looked at whether enough has been done to continue the conversation about race, and the steps that boards can take to improve the diversity of the workforce and how to support a more inclusive future pipeline of NHS leaders.

Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers deputy chief executive, speaks to Melanie Walker, our chair of the mental health network and chief executive at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, to discuss what the key opportunities and challenges are for the sector this year and beyond.

Adam Brimelow sits down with Kevin McNamara, Great Western Hospitals acting chief executive, and Caroline Docking, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals assistant chief executive, to discuss their journeys from communication lead to chief executive.

Adam Brimelow, NHS Providers director of communications, speaks to Miriam Deakin, NHS Providers director of policy and strategy, on why social care is such a crucial issue for the NHS.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy have released their new podcast CIPFA speaks - in their first episode they speak to David Williams, NHS Providers senior policy advisor (finances). Listen here or on their soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/user-781258869/cipfa-speaks-episode-1  

Workforce pressures remain the number one concern for NHS trust leaders. Given these challenges, it is important that trusts are able to use the staff available to greatest effect. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a briefing with case studies offering examples of good practice. In this podcast Chris Hopson, NHS Providers' chief executive, discusses these issues with the CQC's chief inspector of hospitals, Prof Ted Baker.

Following the publication of the interim NHS People Plan, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson speaks to NHS Improvement chair Dido Harding and Health Education England chair Sir David Behan about why the interim plan is a significant moment and offers a good start to addressing workforce challenges in the NHS.